How to Use Cooking to Teach Your Child Math

Give a child the opportunity to put into practice what they are learning, and they will be more likely to understand, comprehend, and remember the information. Use cooking to teach your child math and your child will be able to use hands-on skills to help with this important subject.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• An easy to follow recipe.
• ingredients listed in recipe.
• measuring utensils (measuring cups, spoons)
• oven and safety gear (pot holder)
• Time and Patience

1. Find a recipe that will be easy to follow. There are several websites that focus on cooking for children. Choose one that appeals to the child.

2. Gather all ingredients and measuring utensils before beginning to prepare the food.

3. Discuss the different methods for measuring and the different utensils used to measure. Also discuss the different ways to measure liquids and solids.

4. Show the child how to measure the ingredients; then, allow her to do it. Talk with her about the importance of measuring correctly in cooking. You can also venture into a discussion of how cooking is chemistry, if appropriate.

5. Help the child prepare the food to be cooked, including putting food in the oven, if needed and safety concerns require it.

6. Review the steps you've taken with your child while the food is cooking. Discuss again the importance of correct measurements in preparing food and what would happen if the measurements were not correct.

7. Enjoy the food you and your child have prepared together!

Tips & Warnings

• Give you and your child enough time to gather ingredients, prepare the recipe, talk about what you are doing, and cook. Don't rush!
• Make sure you and your child practice safe cooking methods in the kitchen.

Resources

• Grocery Store Math